Combined illuminated street name and traffic signal



Aug. 11, 1964 Y R. GERMAIN 3,144,533

COMBINED ILLUMINATED STREET NAME AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Aug. 17, 1 52 INVENTOR R030!- GERHA/N Q My PA TENT AGENT United States Patent 3,144,633 COMBINED ILLUMINATED STREET NAME AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL Roger Germain, 5257 Baldwin St., Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed Aug. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 217,731 3 Claims. (Cl. 340-42) The present invention relates to a signaling unit for trafiic of motor vehicles and more "particularly to a traflic sign adapted to be installed at the street intersections which are not provided with normal traffic red and green lights.

The general object of the present invention resides in the provision of a signaling unit of the character described which comprises in a single device and advantageously replaces the stop signs and the street name indicating signals or panels as well as the signals indicating permitted direction of movements which are usually found at the four corners of the street intersections and in as many separate indicating panels.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a signaling unit of the character described which is illuminated from the inside and the indications of which are visible even at nght.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a signaling unit of the character described which is constructed in such a manner that the different indicating zones or areas are protected from rain, dust and snow, and also from direct sunlight, and require a minimum upkeep for maintaining the indications or signals in a completely visible condition.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a signaling unit of the character described which is illuminated from the inside and Which is of such a construction that the lightbulb is easily accessible for replacement and the inside surfaces of the indicator panels can be easily cleaned and the panels replaced if broken.

Yet another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a unit of the character described which illuminates the street zone immediately underneath the unit in order to illuminate the center of the street intersection.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a trafiic sign in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-section of the unit, the lower part being also shown in open position in dot and dash lines.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical partial section on an enlarged scale, of one side of the unit.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like elements throughout, the unit of the present invention comprises a cap 1, preferably made of sheet metal and having the shape of a pyramid with a square base, cap 1 being provided at the apex thereof with a rigid tube 2 which is secured to cap 1 and through which pass electric supply wires 3 which are connected to electric lighting means, such as fluoroscent tube 4, disposed underneath cap 1.

A box-shaped frame 5, which as a square shape in plan section, is pivoted to cap 1 by means of hinges 6 which are secured to one side of frame and to the cap 1 under the marginal portion thereof at one side of the cap, whereby frame 5 may pivot as a unit between a horizontal position indicated in full lines in FIGURE 2 and an open inclined position indicated in dot and dash lines in the same figure. Frame 5 is retained in closed position by means of bolts and nuts 7 with the bolts passing through a protruding flange 8 secured to frame 5 and passing through the marginal portion of cap 1 on the side of the latter opposite hinges 6.

Frame 5 comprises an upper part 9 and a lower part 10, both parts being square in plan section but lower part 10 having a smaller size than upper part 9. Both parts 9 and 10 are connected to each other by means of a plate 11 which defines the marginal portion of the bottom of the part 9 whereby sides 12 of the lower part 10 are recessed inwardly with respect to sides 13 of part 9. Sides 12 and 13 have substantially the same height.

Plate 11 is opaque whereas sides 12 and 13 of parts 10 and 9 respectively, are each constituted by a pair of open frames disposed one behind the other with a space therebetween for the insertion of translucent glass panes 14 on which are inscribed the signaling indications such as shown at 15 and 16. Glass panes 14 may be removed from their holding frames by pulling on the same upwardly whenever it is desired to change the indications 15 and 16.

The lower part 10 has a bottom 17 which is downwardly inclined, having the form of a truncated pyramid in an inverted position and with a square base. Bottom 17 is provided with a central opening 18 which is closed by a translucent glass pane 19 whereby light from tube 14 is projected into the street surface. Glass pane 19 can be removed for cleaning or replacement.

The indications inscribed on glass panes 14 of part 9 are instructions for the drivers of the motor vehicles as to what manoeuvres are permitted and forbidden whereas the indication inscribed on the glass panes of the lower part 10 of the unit is the name of the cross street, the unit being suspended at the center of the street intersection. Thus each side of the unit faces automobiles coming from one of the four branches of the intercepting streets. The motor vehicle driver will read for example, as shown in FIGURE 1, that it is necessary to stop at the intersection and that the cross street is named ONTARIO and furthermore that a left-turn is forbidden in accordance with the arrows at the ends of the stop sign. On the contrary the driver of the motor vehicle which comes from the cross street, that is who travels on ONTARIO street, will see at a glance that the cross street is named OR- LEANS and that he has the right-of-way because panels 20 have a green colour. However, this driver will also see that he is not permitted to make a left-turn but only a right-turn. If desired the panels indicating stops can be of a red colour.

From the foregoing it is clear that the driver of a motor vehicle can see at a glance all the indications required regarding the manoeuvres to be effected and also names of the cross streets. The motor vehicle driver is not obliged to look at two, three or four different places to obtain all the information required at the intersection.

The unit in accordance with the invention can be suspended at the center of the street intersection by any desired means for example by means of a post located at one corner of the intersection and having a curved outer end portion which is directed towards the center of the intersection and to which tube 2 will be rigidly secured to prevent the unit from swinging in the Wind.

Because the lettering on the glass panes and the colour of the glass panes are illuminated from the inside, these indications will remain clearly visible throughout the night and also throughout the day because during the period of sunlight, the marginal portion of cap 1 constitutes a shield to prevent sunrays from directly falling unto the indications of part 9. Similarly because lower part 10 is recessed with respect to part 9, the indications carried thereby will also be protected against direct sunlight. Also due to this arrangement, the sides of the upper and lower part are completely protected from rain, snow and dust. The unit moreover has an attractive appearance.

While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention has been illustrated and described, it is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A traffic signaling unit comprising a box shaped member adapted to be suspended at the center of a street intersection comprising a cap having a perimetral edge of substantially square shape, a box-shaped frame of square plan section hinged to said cap and positioned underneath and recessed inwardly relative to the same, means for retaining said frame in closed position with respect to said cap, lighting means underneath said cap and within said frame, said frame comprising an upper part and a lower part superposed one over the other, said lower part having smaller dimensions in plan section than said upper part whereby the sides of said lower part are recessed inwardly with respect to the corresponding sides of the upper part, the sides of the lower part having a height substantially equal to the height of the sides of the upper part, said sides of said parts having window openings, translucent panes removably closing said openings,

the panes of one of said parts carrying indications of manoeuvres to be accomplished by motor vehicle drivers and the panes of the other of said parts indications of street names.

2. A traffic signaling unit as claimed in claim 1, Where in said first named indications are carried by the translucent panes of the upper part of said frame and the street name indications are carried by the translucent panes of the lower part of said frame.

3. A traffic signaling unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower part has a bottom in the form of an inverted truncated pyramid having an aperture centrally thereof whereby the street surface of the centre of the street intersection can be lighted by said same lighting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,123,925 Roderick Jan. 5, 1915 1,664,447 Allen Apr. 3, 1928 1,672,344 Schlaback June 5, 1928 1,806,126 Springfels May 19, 1931 2,252,558 Dodson Apr. 12, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,088,328 France Mar. 7. 1955 

1. A TRAFFIC SIGNALING UNIT COMPRISING A BOX SHAPED MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE SUSPENDED AT THE CENTER OF A STREET INTERSECTION COMPRISING A CAP HAVING A PERIMETRAL EDGE OF SUBSTANTIALLY SQUARE SHAPE, A BOX-SHAPED FRAME OF SQUARE PLAN SECTION HINGED TO SAID CAP AND POSITIONED UNDERNEATH AND RECESSED INWARDLY RELATIVE TO THE SAME, MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID FRAME IN CLOSED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID CAP, LIGHTING MEANS UNDERNEATH SAID CAP AND WITHIN SAID FRAME, SAID FRAME COMPRISING AN UPPER PART AND A LOWER PART SUPERPOSED ONE OVER THE OTHER, SAID LOWER PART HAVING SMALLER DIMENSIONS IN PLAN SECTION THAN SAID UPPER PART WHEREBY THE SIDES OF SAID LOWER PART ARE 